Troika ware spreads its appeal to Cumbria

GOOD standard furniture sold well enough at Mitchell's (15% buyer's premium) July 15-16 sale and included a locally made Jacobean piece.

However, what caught the eye was a collection of pieces from the
other end of the country - some 46 lots of both St Ives and Newlyn
Troika pottery.

Top seller at a mid-estimate £1050 was an 8 1/2in (21.5cm) Anvil
vase with the initials C.P. and Troika Cornwall to the base.

It was followed at an above-estimate £1000 by a 7in square (18cm)
white ware vase with three openings to the top, while an early St
Ives period piece, a 6 1/2in (16.5cm) urn vase with a central band
of floral decoration took a mid-estimate £480.

The locally made furniture star was a James II Westmorland oak
court cupboard. Profusely carved with Celtic scrolls and the date
1685 to the frieze, it had undergone some "sympathetic repairs" and
went comfortably over estimate at £2900.

Other furniture bids included £2400 on a pair of 16in (41cm) wide
Victorian walnut pedestal cupboards with fronts modelled as four
drawers; £1800 on a 19th century Italian ebonised and ivory inlaid
cabinet; and £1700 on a late Victorian carved oak library bookcase.
The expected horology star, a late 19th century mahogany longcase
inscribed Maples & Co. Ltd., London, failed to get away on the
day against hopes of £5000-8000. The top clock slot went to an
early 19th century mahogany and walnut marquetry longcase.

Standing 7ft 7in (2.31m) tall, it had a 14in (35.5cm) square dial
painted to the arch with fishermen mending nets. Signed C.B.
Mazzuchi to the eight-day striking movement, the clock took £2400
against hopes of £1800.

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